Permanent wave hair roller washer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for washing permanent wave hair rollers and method for using same wherein prior to washing said rollers wave solution saturated papers are removed therefrom in the washer which is in the form of a rotating drum through which a blast of air is forced. Baffles cause the curlers to fall into the air stream so that the curlers&#39;&#39; papers are driven into an exhaust cannister.

Umted States Patent 1 1 [111 3,834,530

Bell Sept. 10, 1974 [54] PERMANENT WAVE HAIR ROLLER 1,581,240 4/1926 Stebbins 209/ 152 WASHER 1,673,848 6/1928 Stebbins... 209/152 2,600,837 6/1952 Boyer 209/3 X [76] Inv o Verna Bell, 6707 Concord Hill, 3,620,369 11/1971 Steen et a1. 209/3 Louisville, Ky. 40228 22 Filed; 7 1972 Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter [21] Appl N 304 405 Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. H111 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 209/3, 209/10, 209/135, A f h n 209/152 134/104 11 apparatus or was mg permanent wave air to ers [51] Int Cl B07b 4/06 and method for usmg same wherem pr1or to washing [58] Fie'ld 134 I35 said rollers wave solution saturated papers are re- 2'09/3 b, 1321/10; 6 moved therefrom in the washer which is in the form of a rotating drum through which a blast of air is forced. [56] References Cited Baffles cause the curlers to fall into the air stream so that the curlers papers are driven into an exhaust can- UNITED STATES PATENTS nisten 883,278 3 1908 B 1 209 152 l e t I 4 Claims, 3 Drawlng F gures 1,518,031 12/1924 Waterman ..209/152 PERMANENT WAVE HAIR ROLLER WASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In permanent waving a number of strands of hair are wrapped in a small permanent wave paper which in turn is rolled around a hair roller. One of the less desirable tasks in a beauty shop is that of washing these permanent wave rollers. Generally when the rollers are removed from the hair the permanent wave curler papers cling to them. The papers must then be pulled off one or a few at a time, by hand, before the curlers can be washed. For this reason it is common practice to have a large supply of curlers or hair rollers, to be washed at some later time. By then the permanent wave papers have dried, stiffened, and become even more stuck to the rollers. The chore of washing permanent wave rollers is even more undesirable. There is, therefore, a need for an apparatus which eliminates this job.

Washers for eggs and other articles are the subject of such US. Pat. Nos. 2,966,159, 3,031,363 and 2,770,123. However, the apparatus described in those patents does not provide a means for separating the permanent wave papers from the hair rollers being washed. In accordance with this invention an apparatus is provided which includes means for separating permanent wave papers from the hair rollers, desirably before the curlers are washed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus herein for separating permanent wave papers from curlers entwined therewith includes a tubular rotatable drum. This drum has a hollow center portion, an air inlet end and an air exhaust end. The drum is provided with means for inserting permanent wave curlers along with their papers in its hollow inside portion. Means are included for admitting forced air into the air inlet end of said drum and for exhausting air from the air exhaust end of the drum, after an air stream has passed therethrough. The drum is rotated while forcing said air stream through the drum. Baffle means in the hollow inside portion of the drum are disposed to disperse curlers and permanent wave papers in said forced air stream during drum rotation. A porous catch vessel removably attached over the air exhaust end of the drum catches permanent wave papers carried out of the exhaust end by said forced air stream.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In my copending applications (Ser. No. 304,403, filed Nov. 7, 1972) and (Ser. No. 304,404, filed Nov. 7, I972) permanent wave curler washers are described whichinclude means for automatically lifting wet permanent wave papers out of a wash solution. In accordance with the practice of this invention an apparatus is provided for blowing the permanent wave papers FIG. 3 is a partial view of still another form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, washer drum 2 is in the form of a cylinder having tapered ends 3a and 3b, resembling truncated cones. As is apparent from FIG. 2, drum 2 is hollow, and is provided with radial baffles 26 integral with the inside surface of the drum and extending inwardly toward the axis of the drum. Drum 2 is supported on frame 1 in such a way that it is capable of rotation. This is best accomplished by rollers 12 and motor 4. Frame 1 is bifurcated so that the periphery of drum 2 extends between its two arms. Rollers 12 are mounted in these arms (not shown). Drum 2 lies on these two rollers, and hence can be rolled thereon. The drum is further supported by the shaft of motor 4 which is also mounted on frame I.

It will be noted that motor 4 is the type having a double shaft. One shaft effects the rotation of drum 2 as described. The other shaft carries pulley drive wheel 5 which through belt 9 and driven pulley wheel 7 operparatus. If desired, heater 8 can be incorporated in fan 6 to dry any permanent wave papers which may still be moist.

To convey the forced air to the air inlet end 3a of drum 2 a stationary chute or bonnet 10 is connected to forced air fan 6. The bonnet fitsslidably around the outside of end 3a through sealing means 13 permitting drum 2 to rotate within the bonnet. Truncated conical drum end 30 is provided with peripheral openings 11 to admit the forced air from chute 10 to the inside of drum 2.

We now refer to air exhaust end 3b. This truncated conical end terminates in sleeve 30 adapted to receive screen canister 18 or similar catch vessel so perforated that exhausted forced air is emitted therethrough. Canister 18 is fabricated with a tubular inlet 15 which snaps or otherwise snugly fits on sleeve 30. Air exhaust end 3b is also removably attached to drum 2 being held on the drum by latch means 16. Exhaust end 3b can thus be removed with or without canister 18 being attached thereto. The removal of this end permits entry into the rotating drum for inserting or removing permanent wave curlers.

The operation of the apparatus of this invention will now be considered. Air exhaust end 3b is removed by releasing latches I6, and permanent wave curlers along with permanent wave papers intermingled therewith are inserted in the unit. By suitable switch means in an electrical circuit (not shown) motor 4 is actuated. As a consequence, drum 2, rolling on rollers 12, begins rotating. Concomitant with this drum rotation fan 6 is actuated by drive wheel 5 acting on driven wheel 7 through belt 9. This forces air through drum 2 from air inlet end 3a through air exhaust end 3b.

During drum rotation baffles 26 lift curlers and permanent papers and tumble them into forced air stream passing through rotating drum 2. Fan 6 forces air through the drum with sufficient velocity .to drive ment shown in FIG. I, washed in the unit. Water is ad mitted by a coupling connection, not shown, or through exhaust end 3b, by removing canister 18. Rotation of the drum is then begun, to tumble the curlers in the wash water. After the curlers are cleansed slip ring 22 is moved off of drain holes 20 so that the wash water flows out through drain 24 (FIG. 2) beneath the drain holes.

Given the teachings of this invention modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. As an example, different drive means can be employed as shown in FIG. 3. Motor 4 and drive wheel 5 can be used to drive a belt 32 which surrounds drum 2. Various other washing means will also occur to those skilled in the art. Thus after removal of the papers the curlers can be moved into canister 18, and the canister placed in a spray or steam of running water. These and other ramifications are deemed to be within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In the washing of permanent wave curlers having permanent wave papers entwined therewith the process for separating the permanent wave papers from the curlers comprising inserting the permanent wave curlers along with their papers into a tumbling zone, forcing an air stream through said zone, tumbling the curlers and papers into said air stream to disperse curlers and permanent wave papers in the air stream, driving the permanent wave papers out of the tumbling zone, collecting the permanent wave papers in an exhaust zone, and subsequently washing said curlers while in said tumbling zone.

2. Apparatus for separating permanent wave papers from curlers entwined therewith comprising a supporting frame; a tubular rotatable drum carried thereby, having a hollow center portion, an air inlet end, and an air exhaust end; means for inserting permanent wave curlers along with their papers, in the hollow inside portion of the rotatable drum; means for admitting forced air into the air inlet end of said drum; means for exhausting air from the air exhaust end of the drum after an air stream has passed therethrough; means for rotating said drum while forcing said air stream through the drum; baffle means in the hollow inside portion of said drum, disposed to disperse curlers and permanent wave papers in said forced air stream during drum rotation; a porous catch vessel removably attached over the air exhaust end of the drum to catch permanent wave papers carried out of the exhaust end by said forced air stream; and means for admittinga wash solution into the hollow portion of the rotatable drum and drain means therefor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the catch vessel is a closed wire drum having an open end adapted to fit over the exhaust end of the drum.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drum rests on rollers carried by the supporting frame, wherein the means for rotating the tubular drum is a motor with a double drive shaft, one drive shaft being coupled to the rotatable drum, the other shaft being coupled to an air blower which in turn is connected through a chute to the air inlet end of said drum. 

1. In the washing of permanent wave curlers having permanent wave papers entwined therewith the process for separating the permanent wave papers from the curlers comprising inserting the permanent wave curlers along with their papers into a tumbling zone, forcing an air stream through said zone, tumbling the curlers and papers into said air stream to disperse curlers and permanent wave papers in the air stream, driving the permanent wave papers out of the tumbling zone, collecting the permanent wave papers in an exhaust zone, and subsequently washing said curlers while in said tumbling zone.
 2. Apparatus for separating permanent wave papers from curlers entwined therewith comprising a supporting frame; a tubular rotatable drum carried thereby, having a hollow center portion, an air inlet end, and an air exhaust end; means for inserting permanent wave curlers along with their papers, in the hollow inside portion of the rotatable drum; means for admitting forced air into the air inlet end of said drum; means for exhausting air from the air exhaust end of the drum after an air stream has passed therethrough; means for rotating said drum while forcing said air stream through the drum; baffle means in the hollow inside portion of said drum, disposed to disperse curlers and permanent wave papers in said forced air stream during drum rotation; a porous catch vessel removably attached over the air exhaust end of the drum to catch permanent wave papers carried out of the exhaust end by said forced air stream; and means for admitting a wash solution into the hollow portion of the rotatable drum and drain means therefor.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the catch vessel is a closed wire drum having an open end adapted to fit over the exhaust end of the drum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drum rests on rollers carried by the supporting frame, wherein the means for rotating the tubular drum is a motor with a double drive shaft, one drive shaft being coupled to the rotatable drum, the other shaft being coupled to an air blower which in turn is connected through a chute to the air inlet end of said drum. 